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Ohio Wesleyan Awards $74,000 in Spring 2014 Theory-to-Practice Grants

Ellie Feely ’14 and Rachel Vinciguerra ’14 visited Nepal (Kathmandu and Mountain regions) over summer 2013 using a Theory-to-Practice Grant. Ohio Wesleyan has awarded more than $1 million in competitive Theory-to-Practice Grants since 2009, when the program began. (Photo courtesy of Rachel Vinciguerra ’14)

DELAWARE, Ohio – From Ireland to Indonesia, Canada to Connecticut, and everywhere in between, Ohio Wesleyan University students, faculty, and staff will travel the globe using spring 2014 Theory-to-Practice Grants to fund 11 new research and special projects.

Ohio Wesleyan awarded $74,000 in competitive Theory-to-Practice Grants during this latest grant cycle, bringing to more than $1 million the amount of university funds awarded to the campus community since fall 2009. The program has enabled more than 500 OWU students, faculty, and staff to conduct research or complete special projects in 12 world regions, 55 countries (including the United States), and 22 U.S. states/territories (including Ohio).

“Doing Theory-To-Practice Grants pushes me to have a more thorough understanding of world affairs and reminds me why it is so important for each of us to be an active participant in the policies of our country and our world,” said Rachel Vinciguerra, a senior from Reading, Mass., who received a previous Theory-to-Practice grant to study in Nepal.

Ohio Wesleyan awards two rounds of Theory-to-Practice Grants funding each academic year. To date, the university has funded more than 150 proposals. Here are the latest OWU Theory-to-Practice Grant recipients and their projects:

“Protestant-Catholic Intra-Religious Dialogue in Northern Ireland,” submitted by student Meghan Byram of Brunswick, Ohio, and Associate Chaplain Lisa Ho. From May 12 to May 22, Byram and Ho, and six additional Ohio Wesleyan students and staff, will travel to Ireland to study the history of Catholic-Protestant conflicts in Northern Ireland, the peace and reconciliation movement, and the resulting intra-religious partnerships. Set to participate in the travel-learning opportunity are students Liam Dennigan of Norwell, Mass.; Anna Eames of Rocky River, Ohio; Noah Manskar of Nashville, Tenn., Emily Phillips of Amherst, Ohio; and Luke Waters of Memphis, Tenn.; and staff member Amanda Stewart.

“Following in Their Footsteps: A Pilgrimage to Santiago,” submitted by Makenna Huff of Medina, Ohio. From June 18 to July 28, Huff will visit France and Spain to explore Camino de Santiago – a Christian pilgrimage route dating back to the Middle Ages.

“Conodont Biozonation of the Dundee Limestone, Michigan Basin,” submitted by student Brittany Hupp of Croton, Ohio, and Keith Mann, Ph.D., professor of geology. From May 9 to April 19, 2015, Hupp and Mann will visit Michigan at intervals to use biostratigraphic techniques to produce the conodont biozonation of a portion of the Dundee Limestone.

“Sustainability in Asian Culture: Learning How to Cultivate Cultural Awareness, Language Skills, and an Organic Eco-friendly Way of Living,” submitted by student Lauren Janowicz of Toledo, Ohio, and Ching-Hsuan Wu, Ph.D., assistant professor of modern foreign languages. From May 13 to May 31, Janowicz, Wu, and student Megan Keppler of Strasburg, Ohio, will travel to the Ananda Suruci Eco-village in Taiwan to study sustainability.

“Tim Miller Residency at OWU,” submitted by student Ryan Haddad of Cleveland, Ohio, and Ed Kahn, Ph.D., associate professor of theatre. Miller, a performance artist from California, will be in residency from March 1, 2015, through April 30, 2015. He will hold workshops with 16 to 20 OWU students, culminating in a public performance of the students’ work.

“Theatermakers Summer Intensive at Eugene O’Neill Theater Center,” submitted by students Kristen Krak of Newark, Ohio, and Ryan Haddad. From June 13 to July 26, Krak and Haddad will attend the summer program at the O’Neill in Waterford, Conn.

“C.S. Lewis, Reclaiming Virtues: Human Flourishing in the 21st Century,” submitted by student Katie Nunner of Naples, Fla. From July 20 to July 31, Nunner will travel to England to attend the 2014 C.S. Lewis Summer Institute at Oxbridge to gain a greater understanding of cultural developments of the past half-century within Christian engagements of culture.

“Finding a Path to a Deeper Expression on Stage: The Balinese Workshop for Actors,” submitted by student Haewon Park of Seoul, South Korea. From July 4 to July 27, Park will travel to Indonesia to attend The Balinese Workshop for Actors conducted by Per Brahe.

“Examining Addictive Properties in Sugar Relative to Nicotine and Amphetamine,” submitted by students John Peranzi of Rehoboth, Mass., and Thomas Horsfall of Lyndhurst, Ohio. From Aug. 25 to Dec. 19, Peranzi and Horsfall will search for evidence of the addictive effects of sugar and relative severity compared to nicotine and amphetamine.

“Sexual Orientation Perception: A Research Analysis,” submitted by student Kyle Simon of Bessemer, Ala. From May 12 to Aug. 21, Simon will visit Canada to work as part of a research team analyzing perceptions of sexual orientation at the University of Toronto.

Ohio Wesleyan’s Theory-to-Practice Grant Program is funded through the generous support of the President’s Circle, a group of donors who have made special gifts to fund initiatives related to Ohio Wesleyan’s Strategic Plan and OWU Connection curricular initiative.

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private, coed university offers more than 90 undergraduate majors, minors, and concentrations, and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Ohio Wesleyan combines a challenging, internationally focused curriculum with off-campus learning and leadership opportunities to connect classroom theory with real-world practice. OWU’s 1,850 students represent 42 states and 37 countries. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” listed on the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.